Saturday April 3rd, Cupertino’s Big Bunny 5k Fun Run – checked off my bucketlist! Yeah!
After trying to prepare myself for this run the last month or so, I still arrive the morning of with a ton of doubts and resistance. It was freezing cold for my taste and my legs did not want to move even after a hour of yoga prior. Body sure does have a mind of it’s own. As I look around me and see people of all ages, sizes, and experience, I catch myself judging not others, but myself… the harshest kind of judgement… if that old man beats me… If that person can do it… If that kid… if this, if that….
Stop it! I remind myself that it’s a “fun run.” Wasn’t feeling like it was gonna be fun but as I wait at the start line surrounded by a bunch of excited people, I open myself up grace’s presence. On your mark, get set, GO! The earth moved the group forward as our feets pitter pattered on the pavement. It sounded like rain on the rooftop. It was hard to resist the rhythm of this flow and my frozen calves moved to it. There is great power in group energy! Before I knew it, I was shedding my layers and found my own rhythm without any worries of how I was going to complete this. Many past me up and Darren took off finding is own rhythm. Everyone was in their own rhythm challenging themselves to reach their own personal goals. Mine was to just complete it. The kids inspired me to have fun and the older folks inspired me to appreciate the experience.
15 minutes into the race, there was hardly anyone next to me and I was left alone to think as my mind wandered. For the first time, I thought where is the finish line? How far did I go? What’s left? Trying to figure out what was ahead, I felt my legs were gonna give out. Until the cross guard cheered us on and blurted, “you’re more than halfway done,” like he read my mind. After a big sigh of relief, I focus back on my breathing. Yes, deep ujayii breaths carried me through.
Turning the last corner and seeing the crowd of people, I gain my second wind and sprint in to finish at 31.23 mins. I surprised myself! Never in my life was I able to run a 10 minute mile. LOL in your face, my asthmatic, doubting, stiff leg self! Yoga has taught me well: “Doubt your doubts!” “You never will surprise yourself if you don’t try something different!”
31.23 minutes!
Darren finishing at 30.07 for his age group
The prize for finishing -- hugging the bunny
The Kids had fun too! They did a quarter mile around the lawn:
The star runner of the family - having completed 10 miles total from her school's running program
Go Jazzy Go
A budding runner
No fair! Kids get metals and a bunny hug
We finish where we started and it all begins again -- where's the next race?
Chit Chat